Fly-catcher.



' M. 0. BECKNER.

FLY CATCHE R.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1911.

138%371. Patented 001;. 1, 1918.

INVENTOR 0%06/ ATTORNEY 1M5 NORRIS PEYERS 60., PHOTO-M7140vv WASHING WN D. C,

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MATTHEW Ov BECKNER, OF B OANOKE, VIRGINIA.

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To all whom it may concern: -B e it known that I, MATTHEW O. BEoK- NER,.& citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of. Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ly-Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to fly catchers, and has for an object to provide a device of this character embodying a suction fan to draw the flies into a receptacle provided to receive the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fly catching device of this nature adapted to be located upon the front end of a motor car, and to be operated by the engine thereof whereby flies may be collected during forward travel of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fly catching device of the character above noted adapted to be carried about in the hand for use in confined spaces.

In addition to the foregoing my invention comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar and corresponding parts are designated by the same characters of reference throughout the several views in which they appear:

Figure 1, is a view in front elevation of a motor vehicle illustrating the application thereto of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a view in longitudinal section of my invention illustrating the method of operatively connecting the same with the motor, and

F ig. 3, is a view in side elevation of a portable form of my improved fly catcher.

iVith reference to the drawings 10 indicates the hood of a motor vehicle, and 11 the radiator provided with the usual filling cap 12 located centrally of the car and at the top of the radiator. The cooling fan 13 of the motor is provided for the purposes of my invention with a forward extension of its shaft indicated at 14. The headlights 15 in accordance with the usual custom are mounted upon U-shaped brackets 16 at either side of the machine.

My improved fly catcher comprises a funnel'shaped member 17 which is located In front of the radiator with its small end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, recs.

directed rearwardly. The small end of the funnel shaped member is directed downwardly to form a conduit 18 which opens into a cage 19, formed preferably of foraminous material, and which is supported partly upon the front axle by means of U-bolts 20, and partly by means of a bracket 21 which supports the rear end of the cage from the chassis frame. The rear end of the cage is open and provided with a hingedly mounted closure 22, normally held in closed position by means of a latch 23. The end of the conduit 18 which opens into the cage is normally closed by means of a hingedly mounted flap valve 24, held in place by means of a light spring 25., the valve being designed to open into the cage.

A shaft 25 is extended through an opening 26 into the funnel shaped member, and the rear end of the shaft is connected to the fan shaft 14 bymeans of a coupling 27. The opposite end of the shaft extends into the funnel shaped member to a point adjacent the large opening thereof and is provided with a fan 28. The large end of the funnel shaped @member is closed with a section of wide mesh material 29 to prevent the entrance of paper or the like into the funnel.

The funnel shaped member is supported by means of a brace rod 30 which is connected at one end to the periphery of the large end of said funnel member, at the highest point thereof, and extends rearwardly and is provided upon said rear end with a bifurcated terminal 31 designed to embrace the filling cap 12 of the radiator. The terminals of the bifurcated portion are furthermore enlarged and apertured to permit the entrance of a bolt 32 thereinto as indicated whereby to securely connect the brace rod to the filling cap. A second pair of brace rods 33 are provided, one being located at each side of the funnel shaped member, with the forward ends of the rods riveted or otherwise secured thereto, and the rods extended rearwardly with their rear ends provided with sleeves 34 designed to receive one of the terminals of the U shaped lamp brackets 16 as indicated.

It will be apparent that during forward travel of the vehicle, and while the fan shaft 14 is in motion, the fan 28 within the funnel shaped member will create a draft 24: being held in open position by the current of air. The cage is designed to bedetached and replaced after being emptied or its contents.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have illus trated a modified form of my invention which includes a funnel shaped member 1 with a fan shaft 25 penetrating the san'ie and provided with, a suction fan, the shaft however, in this instance being connected totlre haft or a motor whieh menntea upon a handle 36. The operation of this "term of my invention is the same as the form first described, in the second instance however, the device is intended tobe earrie'd in theh'and anddirected toward places wfw here flies accumulate. The term associated with the *motor vehicle is articularly efficacious when gathering fiies' 'in the streets of a city, and particularly in the vici'nitye-f "street markets where food is exposed.

While I have "illustrated and described my inventieirwith some degree of partjicularity, .I realize that in practibie various alterations thereof may be made, and I therefore desire to reservethe right and privile e of changing the form of the de tails of construction, or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the inventien or the scope of the appended claim. Having thus described my invention 'wh'at eapi's or thipate'nt may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, DAL

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s p In a motor vehilelncludlng the radiator filler cap, the cooling fan shaft, and the front axle, the combination therewith of a funnel-shaped casing mounted forwardly of the vehicle, and having its smaller end directed rearw ardly, a tubular extension 40 formed on the rear end of the said funnel shaped member extended downwardly, a spring h'eld valvenormally eleein gthe lower end er sai'd tubular extension, meet-an ular eage 0t foraminous material mount'e'ctu on the axle; a closure for the end "of the cage, said cage having; an opening in it's in presence of we witnesses.

the (lommissionerrdf Patents; 

